The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
54-year-old Thanh Ha is currently without permanent housing, and he stays in the St. Petersburg, Florida, area. Ha uses a bicycle for transportation.
According to reports, Ha was recently working on a home in St. Petersburg that was undergoing construction.
Just before noon on May 3, it was reported that Ha rode his bike to his employer’s soon-to-be home.
Several security cameras were attached to different areas of the property, and they were actively monitoring the residence when he arrived.
After he walked away from the bicycle, the man reportedly went into the house.
It reportedly appeared as if he intentionally covered his face with clothes to prevent being recognized.
A few minutes later, a man asserted to be the same person fled from the home.
The authorities were alerted and told that the residence was on fire.
Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office went to the address to investigate the source of the blaze.
The police reported that the home surveillance videos showed a man that they came to believe was Ha riding a bike up to the residence and locking it on the pole of a nearby road sign.
According to reports, the videos recorded also caught the suspect retrieving his bicycle and riding away after.
The homeowner viewed the recordings and told the authorities that they believed the suspect was Ha. They explained that they hired the man to work for them on their construction project.
When deputies spoke to Ha about the situation, the man allegedly admitted to setting the fire and said that “spirits told him to.”
Ha was taken into custody and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He is expected to face charges of second-degree arson, a felony, and he is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.